Planning Application Submission

Generally, most development requires the benefit of Planning Permission from the Local Authority, and we will be able to advise you, the client, on this. Works on site should not commence until Planning Approval has been granted (where applicable), and any works carried out needs to comply with the approved scheme.

The current Planning Application system looks at the impact the development may have on the surrounding environment, in terms of scale, massing, materials, access, whether it is appropriate, if it has an impact on the environment and indigenous wildlife as well as a whole host of other topics and compliances with current local and national Planning Policies.

Timescales

At present Local Authorities ‘have to’ determine all applications within an 8 week period (13 weeks for larger schemes).

Once approved, you currently have 3 years in which to ‘implement’ the development. You do not have to complete the development within this period to keep the approval live.

In most cases, when a Planning Authority issues a Planning Approval Notice, there will be a series of ‘Conditions’ on the Notice.

We will provide a fee quote for preparing drawings, a Design + Access Statement and other required written information, filling in forms, obtaining necessary Ordnance Survey information and submitting the actual application.

Where required we would advice on fees for specialists where required to provide supporting information, whether it relates to bat surveys, other wild life habitation, traffic studies, environmental issues etc.

All correspondence relating to the application will be sent to and dealt with by ourselves.

Negotiations

Our fee would include for any negotiations with the Planning Authority during the Planning Application process, and we would confirm our terms should the scheme require amending as a result of the Local Authorities requirements. Generally minor amendments we will carry out within the quoted fee, but where major redesign may be needed to ensure an approval, then we would obviously require additional fees based on an agreed formula, generally on a time basis, or a lump sum.

Planning Consultant

The information required to accompany Planning Applications is increasingly becoming more involved and complex, as more and more information is being asked for. Depending on the sensitivity of the development, we may suggest that we take on board a Planning Consultant to submit the application to increase the chances of obtaining an approval.

Should it be required, we will obtain competitive fee quotes from Planning Consultants for their involvement in preparing and running the planning application. Their fees you will pay direct.

The Planning Approval Notice should be kept in a safe place, preferably with any other Approvals, and with the Deeds of the property.

Should a Planning Application be refused, then you have the option of resubmitting a revised application or making an official Appeal to the Secretary of State. The latter can take up to 6 months to determine. We would advise you, the client, at the appropriate stage about the process and costs involved.

Building Regulations Application Submission >